This week in the Modern African history course we’re discussing African participation in World War II and its impact on the continent. Like the growing attention to World War I highlighted by the World War I in Africa project, it is increasingly easy to access media for classroom use. A few I have used successfully: ONLINEContinue reading “World War II in Africa”
Author Archives: jillekelly
Prime Evil’s Parole
Today, South Africa announced the parole decisions for three apartheid-era political assassins: Clive Derby-Lewis, Eugene de Kock and Ferdi Barnard. Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masuta announced that de Kock would be released. Despite the medical board‘s recommendation, the state denied Derby-Lewis (the man behind Chris Hani‘s murder) parole. The decision on Ferdi Bernard has beenContinue reading “Prime Evil’s Parole”
Repost: Lecture Prep and Digital Humanities
This is a re-post from my #DayofDH2014 page (April 8, 2014). Some portion of my Tuesday is usually devoted to grading and lecture prep for the rest of the week. Tomorrow the Modern Africa History course will cover decolonization in Portuguese Africa, so I want to blog about some of the great online digital sourcesContinue reading “Repost: Lecture Prep and Digital Humanities”
“Nadine’s People”
The South African author, Nobel laureate, anti-apartheid and anti-secrecy activist Nadine Gordimer has died at the age of ninety. Novelist Thando Mgqolozana tweeted this morning, “Nadine’s People,” a play on one of her most popular novels, July’s People. I am one of Nadine’s People. I frequently get asked, “Why South Africa?” Why did I choose toContinue reading ““Nadine’s People””
#SAVotes2014 #20YearsofFreedom
Today, South Africans vote in their fifth democratic election. Here’s a round-up of images and links: April 27 marked the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s first democratic election, which South Africans celebrate annually as Freedom Day. To learn more about the end of apartheid and South Africa’s 1994 elections, visit South African History Online. They’ve got a timeline of electionsContinue reading “#SAVotes2014 #20YearsofFreedom”
Last Day of Class!
Today was the last day of class, so my six Overcoming Apartheid Junior Seminar students enjoyed a South African feast! World Market provisioned us with Ceres litchi juice and Mrs. Ball’s chutney. Bobotie is certainly one of the Cape”s best known dishes with a bit of a controversy around it. Is it of Cape MalayContinue reading “Last Day of Class!”
On the Anniversary of Hani’s Assassination
Today in 1993, Thembisile “Chris” Hani was assassinated. Januzs Walus, an anti-Communist Polish refugee who had close links to the Afrikaner nationalist AWB, shot Hani in front of his Johannesburg home. Conservative Party MP Clive Derby-Lewis was implicated in the assassination. Both men are still serving prison sentence for the murder and Derby-Lewis has been attackedContinue reading “On the Anniversary of Hani’s Assassination”
ICYMI: #DayofDH
In case you missed it, I blogged yesterday for #DayofDH over at my #DayofDH site. I posted about my morning digital routine, teaching African history in the digital age, and using digital tools to make workshop planning easier. I summed it all up using Storify. If you don’t know about digital humanities, the Day ofContinue reading “ICYMI: #DayofDH”
Tomorrow I’ll be blogging on my #DayofDH site for the annual Day of DH project. Day of DH brings together scholars interested in digital humanities from around the world. But tomorrow is today in Taiwan, from where the first #DayofDH post comes! Stay tuned for more! http://dayofdh2014.matrix.msu.edu/jillekelly/
Twitter in the Classroom: Early African History
This week Gradhacker hosts #digped week. Their “Seven Things I Learned from Teaching with Twitter” post forced me to reflect on my experience teaching with Twitter in the fall semester. As I plan for next year, is it something I will try again? I used Twitter in a course on African History to 1880. ForContinue reading “Twitter in the Classroom: Early African History”